Novelist Bruce Bauman, author of Broken Sleep joins Nicole Nelson to talk about writing dialogue, balancing tragedy with humor, and the good that can come of letting your characters take control.

In the second half, debut novelist Sanderia Faye, author of Mourner’s Bench talks about finding the voice for her story in the form of eight-year-old Sarah, the surprises she found when researching the Civil Rights era history of her home town in Arkansas, and the importance of having confidence and especially to, as her teachers advised her along the way, “keep writing.”

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(Broadcast date: December 16, 2015)

Anthony Marra, author of the collection The Tsar of Love and Techno, joins Marrie Stone to talk about his draw to Russia and Chechnya, the importance of humor, writing to music, the short story form, and more.

In the second half, Karen Bender shares her new collection, Refund.  She talks about living in New York after 9/11, parenting, money, aging and lots of tips and tricks on craft.

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(Broadcast date: December 2, 2015)

Short story author Ann Beattie, The State We’re In: Maine Stories, joins Marrie Stone to talk about why Maine, although home, remains a mystery to her.  She discusses compelling women, the danger of linked short stories, and more.

In the second half, Ron Rash returns to the show to discuss his latest novel, Above the Waterfall.  He shares his thoughts on the importance of place, redemption, and his reluctance about embracing the “southern writer”  label.

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(Broadcast date: October 21, 2015)

Colum McCann joins Marrie Stone to talk about his latest novella and short story collection, Thirteen Ways of Looking.  He talks about his attack in New Haven, how it’s impacted his writing, what remains important to him, and what single novel he returns to again and again.

In the second half, John Freeman talks about editing the anthology, Tales of Two Cities, The Best and Worst of Times in Today’s New York.  He discusses the NY housing crisis, the juxtaposition of wealth in NY, treating people with dignity, and how homelessness can divide a family.

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(Broadcast date: November 18, 2015)

Debut novelist Julia Pierpont, author of Among the Ten Thousand Things, joins Marrie Stone to talk about shifting points of view, new ways to approach old topics, and the virtue of MFAs.

In the second half, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and National Book Award short story writer Adam Johnson discusses his latest collection, Fortune Smiles.  Adam talks about his quirky childhood, his hands-on research process, what drives his curiosities, and much more.

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(Broadcast date: August 19, 2015)

Novelists Nina Revoyr, author of LOST CANYON, and Katherine Taylor, author of VALLEY FEVER, and I, talk about having patience as a writer, writing hundreds of pages and discarding them, writing setting, finding the voice of your novel, and more.
Thanks for listening…
Barbara

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(Broadcast date: Nov. 11, 2015)